Method



June 7, 1927.

C. SKOGLUND METHOD OF MAKING TUBING Filed Jan. 51, 1922 23 23 Page.

Inven-toh: Charles skogl und,

the tubing is woun Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,631,651 PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, A

CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK.

'IETEOD OI MAKING TUBING.

Application fled January 31,1022. semi to. 533,072.

My igivention relates to a method ofmaking tu ing and has for its object the provision of a method of and apparatus for forming and treating reliable, and economical manner.

. It is common in the making of various kinds oftubes, for example, varnished fabric insulating tubes, to insert a rod tightl in the woven fabric tube to support the fa ric in tubular form while being treated. -After the fabric has been treated the rod is removed, the fabric then having suflicient rigidity to be self-supporting. great disadvantage in this method is that a solvent 1 of some kind is necessary to free the rod from the tube in order to permit its removal. This results in deterioration of the treatment to which the tube has been subjected. By means of my invention, I have rovided a method of making tubing, whereby it is not necessar to use a rod to support the material while eing treated.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide flattened fabric tubing which shape in tubular form by drawing it through a die, after which I maintain the fabric under tension to preserve its form and then treat it to give it rigidity. In one embodiment of my invention I force a ball through the flattened tubing while simultaneously therewith drawing the tubing through the die, whereby the fabric is in effect progressively ironed in tubular form.

For a better understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation view showing apparatus for making tubing in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation view of the ironing device through which the tubing is assed; Fi 3 is a sectional view along the 'ne 3-3 0 Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; while Fi 4 is a view in perspective of the sup orting frame on which under tension. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, in one form of my) invention, the flattened fabric or other tu ing 10, wound on a suitable reel 11, is drawn under tension throu h an v ironing device 12, which shapes the abric in tubular form, and then wound under tension on a frame 13. The tubing is drawn through the ironing device 12 by suitable operating means (not shown) which is con- 6 nected by belt 14 to a driving wheel 15 tubing in a simple,

which is provided secured to frame 13. By means of a tension- I ing device comprising plates 16 and 17 which can be adjusted with relation to each other by'means of a thumb screw 18, an desired tension can be applied to the t'u ing, the tubing belng passed between the plates 16 and 17 i i Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the ironing device 12 is provided with a die 20 having a round aperture through which the tube is drawn. The die is held in a suitable support 21 by means of a set screw 21'. Dies of various sizes may be provided for use with a single support. They can be exchanged to .--correspond with the size of thetubing b loosening screw 21. Electric heating devices 22 and 23 are mounted in the support 21 adjacent the die so as to heatit to a desired working temperature. These heatmg devices may be of an suitable type, as cartrid resisting umts. They are shown as cylindrical in form and having their terminals extending from opposite ends, one; I pair of ad acent end. terminals being connected by a conductor 24, while the opposite terminals are connected to a suitable sourceof electric supply (not shown) through conductors 25 and 26. The heating devices are thus connected in series relation, although any suitable arrangement may obviously be used.

A ball 30 is provided which is slightly larger than the diameter of the die. As the tubing is drawn through the die, this ball is forced through it. A cylindrical metallic member 31 is secured to frame 21 so as to surround the tube. Member 31 .carries a receptacle/32 which is adapted to catch the ball when the end of the tubing is reached.

Referring to Fig. 4, the frame .13 upon which the tubing is wound comprises two parallel bars 33 and 34 having transverse rods 35 and 36 joining their adjacent extremities. Bars 33 and 34 are provided with central transverse openings 37 and 3'8. :3 means of which the frame is support Bar 34 fits snugly in a channel member 39 having a central pin 40 which extends through opening 38. The channel member is secured to a driving shaft 41 to which ulley wheel 15 is secured. Opening 37 in ar 33 is enga ed by the end of a longitudinally mova le rod 42, the outer end of with a ring 42. Rod 42 such - ball, but I Carries near its end a collar 43 which is held against bar 33 by means of a spiral spring 44., the opposite end of which engages with the support 45 for the rod.

This arrangement provides for conveniently inserting and removing the frame 13. To remove the frame it is necessary only to pull the rod 42 outward by means of the ring 42" at its end against the tension of spring 44 whereby the end of the rod is disengaged from bar 33 and the frame may be removed from channel member 39.

In making fabric tubing in accordance with my invention, a supply of untreated woven abric tubing is provided wound on reel 11. Such tubing is not sufiiciently rigid to be self-supporting and collapses or flat tens, having the appearance of a narrow strip. The end of the tubing is first passed from reel 11 between clamping lates 16 and 17, ball 30 is then inserted, an the tubing passed through the die and secured in a suitable manner to frame 13, such as by tying it as shown at 46 (Fig. 3). Power is then applied to pulley wheel 15 through belt 14 and the tubing drawn continuously throu h the die,- which is maintained at a suitab e working temperature by" heating units 22 and 23, andvwound under tension on the frame 13. As the. tubing is drawn through the die, ball 30 is simultaneously therewith forced through the tubing. When: the frame is filled the end vof the tubing is v secured in any suitable manner, whereupon. the frame is removed and an empty one inserted in its place, the operation then being re eated as previously described. no to the joint eflect of the die and the ball, the fabric is ironed inside and out in, tubular form as it is drawn through the die. The effect of the die in giving the fab-, ric the desired tubular .formation is, how-' ever, more pronounced than that of the ball. Under certain conditions the tubing may be satisfactoril treated without the use ofthe ave found that it is often desirable touse the ball to smooth out any irregularities which may be found in the fabric. The heat applied expands the fibers of the fabric which The tubing tubes of the desired .lengthbzhe fabric then the fabric and tends to set them as formed by. the die.

'The plates 16 and 17 are, adjusted by thumb screw 18 so as to apply a tension to is just sufficient to maintam it in tubular form after it leaves the .die and when woundon the frame.

The tubing as supported on frame 13 is now subjected to a'suitable treatment to give it rigidity, such as impregnation with a varmsh .to form electrically insulating tubes.

is then dried, whereupon it may be removed from the-frame and cut into being sufliciently-rigid' to self supporting It wille er dat-aa t m 9f the tubing is flattened where it engages with transverse rods 35 and 36 on the frame. By using a correspondingly sized frame, any desired length of tube may be produced. Obviously by providing suitable sup orting means for maintaining the fabric undbr tension as it leaves the die, the tubing may be produced in continuous lengths. Furthermore, flattened tubing made of various materials other than fabric may be formed and treated in accordance with my invention.

While I have described my invention as embodied inconcrete-form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit' of my invention, the scope of. which is set forth in the annexed claims. ,What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 'of the United States, 1s:- 4 1. The method of giving tubular form to fabric tubing flattened into a ribbon which consists in drawing the flattened tubing through a die while applying a tension thereto, wherebythe fabric is given a tubular form'in passing through the die and maintained by the tension in tubular form after leaving the die, and then impregnating the fabric to ive it rigidity.

2. The met 0d of giving tubular form to fabric tubing flattened into a ribbon whichconsists in inserting a ball in the tubing, and then assin the tubing through a die so as to orce t e ball therethrourrh.

3. The method of giving tuhularform to fabri tubing flattened into a ribbonwhich and then drawing the. tubing through a heated die in such manner that the ball is forced therethrough whereby the fabric is. ironed inside and out in tubular form. 4. The method of makin' tubing which .consists in drawing flattens tubing through a die to give it form while applying a ten sion thereto sufficient to preserve its form after it leaves the die, and then treating the tubing after it leaves the die to give it rigidity.

5. The method of making tubing whlch consists in drawing flattenedtubing under tension through a heated die to give it form, maintaining the tubing undertension after it leaves the die to presenve its form, and then treating the tubing after-it leaves the die to give it ri 'dit 6. The method 0 mafimg' msul' at tub- .ingfrom flattened fabric tu in whi consists in drawing the flattened abric tubing through a heated die to give it tubular form, maintaining the fabric under tensionl consists in. inserting a ballin the tubing aftenit leaves the die to preserve its form, I

and then impregnating the fabric with an insulating material to give it rigidity.

7. The method of making tubin which consists in progressively ironing tubing inside and out to give it form, maintaining it under tension in the direction of its length to' reserve its form, and then treating the tuEing to give it rigidity.

8. The method of making tubing which consists in drawing flattened tubing through a die and forcing a ball therethrough to give it form, maintainin it under tension to preserve its form, an then treating the tubing to give it rigidity. V

9. The method of making fabric tubing which consists in formin flattened fabric tubing by insertin a ball 1n the tubin and then drawing it t rough a heated tu ular attened die whch is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball, winding it under tension on a reel to preserve its tubular form, and then impregnating the fabric with a suitable compound givin it rigidity.

10. The method of ma ing fabric insulating tubing from flattened fabric tubing which consists in inserting a ball in the flattened tubing, drawing the through a heated die in such manner that the ball is forced therethrough whereb the fabric is ironed inside and out in tu ular form, and then impregnating the fabric with an insulating material giving it rigidity. a y n witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of January, 1922.

' CHARLES SKOGLUND.

tubing 

